National Weather Service Service Description Document (SDD) Experimental National Weather Service Use of Live Streaming Videos (Facebook and Periscope)
Part 1 - Mission Connection 1. Service Description: Periscope and Facebook Live are popular live, one-to-many video streaming broadcast applications (apps) for iOS and Android. Periscope and Facebook Live can be a useful tools for the National Weather Service (NWS) to further interact with customers and the general public. NWS will be providing experimental use of Periscope and Facebook Live to explore usefulness of the apps to the NWS mission and to solicit feedback from the broader community.
2. Purpose/Intended Use: With live-broadcasting applications (apps) such as Periscope and Facebook Live, you can now watch live events unfold and people can interact directly with the streamer by asking questions as it happens. The ability for NWS offices to instantly stream live video could open up a number of opportunities to explore, including: ● Daily morning briefings ● Severe weather briefings ● Behind the scenes shots ● Spotter training ● General weather briefings ● Meteorologist Biographies ● Ask-a-Meteorologist ● Balloon Release ● Training or teaching ● Storm Surveys
Although the Periscope smartphone and Facebook apps are needed to conduct a broadcast, viewing videos is platform-independent. This means that once a link to a stream is shared via social media, anyone can watch it on any device whether they have the app or not.
3. Audience: This service has the potential to serve a wide audience base, ranging from the general public to our core customers.
4. Presentation Format: Streams will be available via Periscope and Facebook apps, which are available on iOS and Android devices, as well as via common video streaming formats/viewers using any number of devices; from smartphones to Personal Computers (PCs).
5. Feedback Method: Web-based feedback from the broader community will be sought via an NWS customer survey link on the web sites through June 30, 2019. After the evaluation period, a decision to proceed with testing, revise the test, expand the test, or to continue on the path to operational production and expansion to other offices will be made.
Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EXPLive-stream
Questions, comments, or suggestions about the service may be directed to:
Corey Pieper National Weather Service (NWS) Communications Office Social Media and Digital Strategy Lead 819 Taylor Street, Room 10A06 Fort Worth, TX 76102
Part 2 – Technical Description
1. Format and Science Basis: Periscope and Facebook apps are available on iOS and Android devices. Streams are available for view via those apps or via common video streaming formats using any number of devices; from smartphones to personal computers.
2. Availability: Streams will be available as they occur live, and copies of streams are automatically saved for 24 hours, allowing for viewing through an office’s Periscope and Facebook accounts. In addition, offices participating in the experimental will store a copy of each broadcast to make available via links on that office's official NWS web page.
If implemented operationally it is envisioned that there would be one stream per office.
A list of offices providing this experimental service is available at - 2018 Experimental Offices.